BookPDF Available

Abstract

This open access book is based on work from the COST Action “RESTORE - REthinking Sustainability TOwards a Regenerative Economy'', and highlights how sustainability in buildings, facilities and urban governance is crucial for a future that is socially just, ecologically restorative, and economically viable, for Europe and the whole planet. In light of the search for fair solutions to the climate crisis, the authors outline the urgency for the built environment sector to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies, as well as a just transition. As shown in the chapters, this can be done by applying a broader framework that enriches places, people, ecology, culture, and climate, at the core of the design task - with a particular emphasis on the benefits towards health and resilient business practices. This book is one step on the way to a paradigm shift towards restorative sustainability for new and existing buildings. The authors want to promote forward thinking and multidisciplinary knowledge, leading to solutions that celebrate the richness of design creativity. In this vision, cities of the future will enhance users’ experience, health and wellbeing inside and outside of buildings, while reconciling anthropic ecosystems and nature. A valuable resource for scientists and students in environmental sciences and architecture, as well as policy makers, practitioners and investors in urban and regional development.
A preview of the PDF is not available
... This also emphasizes that waste management is only possible with the help of the government. Even though this can't be done, the contractor and the owner must do what they can to cut down on waste [2]. ...
... Hemalatha's 2008 study found that building waste had both a high volume and a low-risk level. Since this waste may be utilized in its original form or recycled or recovered for energy, it is commonly acknowledged that it should be considered a resource [2]; [15]. ...
... Concrete waste recycling as aggregate is becoming increasingly popular due to several issues, including environmental concerns, a lack of available waste disposal sites, and the rising cost of waste treatment before disposal. Material, manpower, money, and machines have a critical part in construction, according to Andreucci et al. (2021). ...
Article
Full-text available
The global economy depends on the building industry. Rapid building growth creates global worries about waste. Construction and demolition waste (CDW) negatively affect costs, energy, productivity, the environment, and society. Planning and storing building trash may reduce these harmful consequences. On local construction sites, waste, poor site management, and resource loss are common. The way a structure is built, how materials and equipment are transported, how employees behave, how a firm is handled, how the site is set up, and how resources are procured all contribute to construction waste, which in turn contributes significantly to the degradation of the environment due to indiscriminate disposals. This study takes a look at the mechanical properties of CDW while conducting the research, credible academic sources were located on Google Scholar, SCOPUS, the Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, and Science Direct. The publications were narrowed down to only those that were most relevant to the study's aims. After reviewing these, the authors focused on just the 49 journal articles, 15 related books, and 7 government publications that were most relevant to the research.
... The calculations of the city development strategy, carried out by the Omelchenko administration, were based on the theoretical basis of the traditional economy. At the same time, as modern research shows, historical heritage, creativity and cultural industries require specifi c methods of economic analysis, which are developed in the fi eld of cultural economics [9,10]. ...
... Modern economists will fi nd it trivial to ask: "Is it economically feasible to reconstruct old historical buildings in the city or to demolish and replace them with "modern" high-rise buildings?" Numerous studies prove the obvious benefi ts of reconstruction and preservation of the cultural value of buildings [7,10]. For instance, D. Throsby, A. Zednik, J. E. Araña confi rmed that the driving factors of people's preferences are the fundamental internal qualities of heritage objects, i. e., their cultural value. ...
... The Theory of Basic Human values [1], which was developed by S. Schwartz on the basis of Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory [10]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose. To examine the mechanism of managing changes resulting from the promotion of a new value system by higher education institutions. Methodology. The research is based on the methods and tools of cultural economics, which allow the authors to comprehensively reveal the relationship between the value system and behavior, on the one hand, and the changes caused by values and behavior, on the other hand. The authors used the methods of modeling, comparative analysis, strategic and systematic approaches to the analysis of economic and managerial organization of the cultural sector and the behavior of producers and consumers. Findings. The study proved that: 1) the value system and its manifestations in practice signal the readiness of city residents to accept or reject changes; 2) the success of promoting a new value system depends on the alignment of the initiative to change the existing value system with the values of the change recipients; 3) the inconsistency between the value system that is being promoted and the recipients values shall be eliminated by means of communication with the change recipients. Communication aims to remove anxiety from expected changes and make the changes attractive to the recipients; 4) anxiety shall be remedied by the messages convincing the change recipients of the positive effects of changes on their value system and of the negative consequences if the recipients reject changes. Originality. The application of Schwartzs Theory of Basic Values and the model of Lngstedt and Manninen allowed the authors to explore the mechanism of managing changes resulting from the promotion of a new value system by a higher education institution. Practical value. The obtained results allow for the effective use of the methods and tools of cultural economics in the formation and promotion of a new system of values by a higher education institution.
... People who live in households with average temperatures below 18 • C are mostly male participants and those with higher temperatures are female participants. This fact is consistent with an EU study [30], where up to 3 • C of differences between women and men were found in terms of thermal comfort. This difference is most evident in offices where women show a better cognitive performance in a warmer environment, while men do better in colder temperatures. ...
... Comparing this result to another study in the US [5] it is found that female workers were significantly less satisfied with their thermal environment than male workers due to clothing insulation. At universities in the UK [30], heavier clothing insulation optimum acceptable worn by women (≈0.92 clo) than men (≈0.83 clo) and the higher optimum acceptable temperature of females (23.5 • C) than males (22.0 • C) supports the warmer thermal requirements of women compared to men. ...
Article
Full-text available
Remote work can have many benefits when set up properly. Nevertheless, the preferences of home workers’ comfort havenot been profoundly studied yet. Therefore, this study aims to understand their accepted Indoor Environmental Quality values in winter based on self-reported comfort. In this regard, 26 households in Catalonia’s Mediterranean region were monitored and surveyed for separated periods of 15 days during from 22 November 2021 to 6 March 2022. Measurements including temperature, temperature, CO2 and Relative Humidity levels were data logged in their most used workspace. Results show that most people work between 18 °C to 20 °C and find those temperatures acceptable. Common spaces used as homeoffices are on average 0.8 °C warmer and there are 470 ppm lower CO2 concentrations. Families with children or teenagers and especially women tend to have a warmer mean operative temperature. The comparison between theoretical thermal comfort models (Fanger and Adaptive) to direct vote perception from a sample of spaces and conditions shows low correlation with real perception having the Adaptive model a better prediction of votes. In general, people report feeling more comfortable at the office, although a high number of participants feel indifferent or reckon that depends on other factors.
... Textiles frequently affect the comfort of people [98], and hence, the material requires a vastly different set of properties compared to other materials such as glass, discussed Section 3.1. Common properties considered are flexibility, durability, weight, tactility, water absorption, and mechanical properties of the textile [99,100]. In many of their applications, textiles should provide insulation (e.g., carpet), visual privacy (e.g., curtains), and comfort (e.g., bedding) as well [98]. ...
Article
Full-text available
With the recent surge in interest in microbial prevention, this review paper looks at the different antimicrobial technologies for surfaces in the built environment. Every year, more than 4 million people are at risk of dying due to acquiring a microbial infection. As per the recent COVID-19 pandemic, such infections alone increase the cost and burden to the healthcare system. Therefore, mitigating the risk of microbial infection in the built environment is one of the essential considerations in our preparedness for future pandemic situations. This is especially important for a dense population within urban cities and for indoor environments with higher concentrations of indoor contaminants due to poorer ventilation. The review assesses antimicrobial technologies developed in the last two years and their potential and suitability for implementation on surfaces within a building, and it also suggests key considerations when developing these technologies for a built environment. The keywords in the main search include “antimicrobial”, “coating”, and “surfaces”. The work found various studies describing the potential use of antimicrobial technologies for different material surfaces. Still, a more thorough investigation and upscaling of work are required to assess their suitability for built environment applications. The widely diverse types of built environments in public areas with their varying purpose, design, and surfaces also mean that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution for every space. In order to improve the adoption and consideration of antimicrobial surfaces, the built environment industry and stakeholders could benefit from more in-depth and long-term evaluation of these antimicrobial technologies, which demonstrate their real-time impact on various built environment spaces.
... Marsden and Farioli (2015) argue that the framing of the eco-economy goes far beyond the framing of the bioeconomy, especially in its implications for environmental, social, and spatial development; while the bioeconomy focuses on renewables and resource efficiency, the eco-economy also comprises more place-based systems and a wider distribution of value added [21]. A regenerative economy puts particular emphasis on the balance between efficiency and resilience, collaboration and competition, diversity and coherence, and small, medium, and large organizations with their different needs [22]. Both, the eco-economy and the regenerative economy model emphasize multifunctional resource uses, including of land. ...
Article
Full-text available
This article focuses on the question of how a shift from a narrow economic perspective to a wider sustainable wellbeing focus in regional development strategies and actions might change rural-urban relations. A brief review of relevant research and discourses about economic development models provides the foundation for the analysis. The review leads to the development of an analytical framework that puts the notion of sustainable wellbeing at its center. The criteria included in the analytical framework are then used to assess the current situation, challenges and perceived ways forward based on data and analyses from 11 European regions. The focus of the analysis is on different expressions of a sustainable wellbeing economy, and aspects of territorial development that are consistent with the basic features of a wellbeing economy are identified. Development dynamics and tensions between different development goals and resource uses, strategies and actions that are in favor of sustainable wellbeing goals, and conditions for more mutually beneficial rural-urban relationships are discussed. The article concludes with the implications for local government, and governance and policy frameworks. Reference is made to current high-level strategic policy frameworks and the European Green Deal.
Article
Full-text available
High noise levels in hospitals can affect patients’ well-being, staff productivity, and medical error rates. This study measured noise in two intensive care units (ICUs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An occupant’s survey and a continuous field sampling were conducted in May and June 2021 in each ICU, using a T Tocas SL 1361 digital sound level meter and an online questionnaire. In GH-ICU, variations in the noise levels for the day, evening, and night-time were recorded as measuring 60.5–94.6 dBA, 61.9–90.0 dBA and 33.3–80.2 dBA respectively, while respective values of 58.8–75.5 dBA, 57–75 dBA, and 33.9–74.8 dBA were recorded for CH-ICU. The weekly noise equivalent level (Leq) of 82.8 dBA and Lden of 83.8 dBA for GH-ICU was computed, and 68.6 dBA and Lden 72.1 dBA for CH-ICU. This study found that the noise levels in both ICUs exceeded the recommended limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) for hospitals, while three-quarters of occupants expressed dissatisfaction with the acoustic environment. The results suggest the need for immediate intervention, including implementing suitable noise mitigation measures since hospital workers and patients are prone to long-term exposure to high noise, which can decrease working performance and health problems.
Book
Full-text available
This publication has a two-fold aim: to summarize the main results from the COST Action CA16114 REthinking Sustainability TOwards a Regenerative Economy (RESTORE, 2017-2021); and, to provide some insight into the project management strategies that are in place for our team, thereby ensuring that the Action will be properly and successfully developed.
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Nowadays, the application of robotic construction techniques in real scale structures is an emerging direction of technological development, which is rapidly growing with various examples coming to the fore. Studies have shown that their implementation in complex design solutions is advantageous as regard their economic aspect in comparison with conventional construction processes mainly due to their ability to minimize material waste and eliminate the use of formworks, in addition to their positive environmental impact when structural optimization, e.g. topology optimization is applied. This paper reviews on relevant works on this research direction with emphasis on robotic construction processes and particularly on 3D Printing (3DP) and Adaptive Casting (AC), together with their influence that can bring to the building industry in terms of their environmental impact and cost, taking into account structural optimization as medium to reduce required materials. Simultaneously, recent developments in this area of research, currently undertaken in our research laboratory are demonstrated. The aim is to discuss and draw conclusions, formulating at the same time a theoretical framework for understanding and applying automation and robotic techniques in the construction industry based on their sustainable potential.
Article
Full-text available
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted billions of lives across the world and has revealed and worsened the social and economic inequalities that have emerged over the past several decades. As governments consider public health and economic strategies to respond to the crisis, it is critical they also address the weaknesses of their economic and social systems that inhibited their ability to respond comprehensively to the pandemic. These same weaknesses have also undermined efforts to advance equality and sustainability. This paper explores over 30 interventions across the following nine categories of change that hold the potential to address inequality, provide all citizens with access to essential goods and services, and advance progress towards sustainability: (1) Income and wealth transfers to facilitate an equitable increase in purchasing power/disposable income; (2) broadening worker and citizen ownership of the means of production and supply of services, allowing corporate profit-taking to be more equitably distributed; (3) changes in the supply of essential goods and services for more citizens; (4) changes in the demand for more sustainable goods and services desired by people; (5) stabilizing and securing employment and the workforce; (6) reducing the disproportionate power of corporations and the very wealthy on the market and political system through the expansion and enforcement of antitrust law such that the dominance of a few firms in critical sectors no longer prevails; (7) government provision of essential goods and services such as education, healthcare, housing, food, and mobility; (8) a reallocation of government spending between military operations and domestic social needs; and (9) suspending or restructuring debt from emerging and developing countries. Any interventions that focus on growing the economy must also be accompanied by those that offset the resulting compromises to health, safety, and the environment from increasing unsustainable consumption. This paper compares and identifies the interventions that should be considered as an important foundational first step in moving beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and towards sustainability. In this regard, it provides a comprehensive set of strategies that could advance progress towards a component of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10 to reduce inequality within countries. However, the candidate interventions are also contrasted with all 17 SDGs to reveal potential problem areas/tradeoffs that may need careful attention.
Book
An urgent case for climate change action that forcefully sets out, in economic, ethical, and political terms, the dangers of delay and the benefits of action. The risks of climate change are potentially immense. The benefits of taking action are also clear: we can see that economic development, reduced emissions, and creative adaptation go hand in hand. A committed and strong low-carbon transition could trigger a new wave of economic and technological transformation and investment, a new era of global and sustainable prosperity. Why, then, are we waiting? In this book, Nicholas Stern explains why, notwithstanding the great attractions of a new path, it has been so difficult to tackle climate change effectively. He makes a compelling case for climate action now and sets out the forms that action should take. Stern argues that the risks and costs of climate change are worse than estimated in the landmark Stern Review in 2006—and far worse than implied by standard economic models. He reminds us that we have a choice. We can rely on past technologies, methods, and institutions—or we can embrace change, innovation, and international collaboration. The first might bring us some short-term growth but would lead eventually to chaos, conflict, and destruction. The second could bring about better lives for all and growth that is sustainable over the long term, and help win the battle against worldwide poverty. The science warns of the dangers of neglect; the economics and technology show what we can do and the great benefits that will follow; an examination of the ethics points strongly to a moral imperative for action. Why are we waiting?
Book
This book presents cutting-edge work on the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of buildings, examining EU policies, regulations and technologies for complex systems such as passive buildings, sustainable buildings and, as part of the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD), nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) requirements. It explores a wide range of topics, including indoor environment requirements, building physics, in-situ experiments to determine the thermal properties of buildings, nZEB requirements, building service technology, and methods of evaluating energy efficiency and environmental impacts. It also provides an overview of the best available technologies for nZEB, including those for the rational use of energy, utilization of renewable energy sources, EPBD systems and calculation methods. This book is a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners of urban planning, and architecture, civil and mechanical engineering.
Article
Since the early days of the COVID-19 crisis the scientific community has constantly been striving to shed light on various issues such as the mechanisms driving the spread of the virus, its environmental and socioeconomic impacts , and necessary recovery and adaptation plans and policies. Given the high concentration of population and economic activities in cities, they are often hotspots of COVID-19 infections. Accordingly, many researchers are struggling to explore the dynamics of the pandemic in urban areas to understand impacts of COVID-19 on cities. In this study we seek to provide an overview of COVID-19 research related to cities by reviewing literature published during the first eight months after the first confirmed cases were reported in Wuhan, China. The main aims are to understand impacts of the pandemic on cities and to highlight major lessons that can be learned for post-COVID urban planning and design. Results show that, in terms of thematic focus, early research on the impacts of COVID-19 on cities is mainly related to four major themes, namely, (1) environmental quality, (2) socioeconomic impacts, (3) management and governance, and (4) transportation and urban design. While this indicates a diverse research agenda, the first theme that covers issues related to air quality, meteorological parameters , and water quality is dominant, and the others are still relatively underexplored. Improvements in air and water quality in cities during lockdown periods highlight the significant environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities and provide a wake-up call to adopt environmentally friendly development pathways. The paper also provides other recommendations related to the socioeconomic factors, urban management and governance, and transportation and urban design that can be used for post-COVID urban planning and design. Overall, existing knowledge shows that the COVID-19 crisis entails an excellent opportunity for planners and policy makers to take transformative actions towards creating cities that are more just, resilient, and sustainable.